Thomas H. Tongue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas H. Tongue
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st district |
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| In office March 4, 1897 – January 11, 1903 |
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| Preceded by | Binger Hermann |
| Succeeded by | Binger Hermann |
| 7th Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon | |
| In office December 13, 1882 – December 10, 1883 December 13, 1886 – December 9, 1887 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | June 23, 1844 Lincolnshire, England, U.K. |
| Died | January 11, 1903 (aged 58) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery 45°31′13″N 123°00′14″W / 45.52015°N 123.00382°W |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Emily Margaret Eagleton |
Thomas H. Tongue (June 23, 1844 – January 11, 1903) was an important American politician and lawyer from Oregon. He was born in England. His family moved to Washington County, Oregon, in 1859.
In Oregon, Thomas Tongue served in the Oregon State Senate from 1889 to 1893. He was also the seventh mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. As a member of the Republican Party, he led the state party. He also represented Oregon at a big national meeting in 1892. From 1897 to 1903, Tongue was a Congressman for Oregon's 1st congressional district.
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His Early Life
Thomas H. Tongue was born in Lincolnshire, England, on June 23, 1844. He went to public schools in England. Later, he moved to the United States with his parents.
His family settled in the Tualatin Valley in Washington County, Oregon, on November 23, 1859. His parents, Rebecca and Anthony Tongue, had a home west of North Plains.
In Oregon, Tongue went to Tualatin Academy. This was a special school in nearby Forest Grove. He then studied at Pacific University and finished college in June 1868. After college, he moved to Hillsboro, Oregon, which was the main town of Washington County. There, he studied to become a lawyer. On December 25, 1869, he married Emily Margaret Eagleton.
His Career in Law and Politics
Tongue became a lawyer in Oregon in 1870. He started his own law office in Hillsboro. Besides being a lawyer, he also farmed and raised animals. He was a member of several groups like the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He was also part of the Masonic Order and became a grand master in that group.
Mayor of Hillsboro
Thomas Tongue began his political journey as the mayor of Hillsboro. He served two terms as mayor. He was first elected in 1882. He was the seventh person to hold that job. His first term was from December 13, 1882, to December 10, 1883. He served a second term later, from December 13, 1886, to December 9, 1887.
In 1884, he bought the land where the Washington County Fair used to be held. This land was about 50 acres. It was south of First Avenue and Baseline in downtown Hillsboro. Tongue used this land for his hobby farm.
Serving in the State Senate
In 1888, Tongue was elected to the Oregon State Senate. He served a four-year term. He was a Republican and represented District 27 and Washington County. While in the State Senate, he led the committee that dealt with laws. He took over from William D. Hare in both his mayor and state senator roles.
Leading the Republican Party
Thomas Tongue was an important official in the Republican Party. He was part of the party's main committee from 1886 to 1896. In 1890, he was chosen to lead the Republican state meeting. He then became the president of the state party from 1892 to 1894.
In 1892, Oregon gained a second area for Congress. Tongue led the Republican party for this new area until 1896. Also in 1892, Tongue went to the big Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was a leader for the Oregon group at the convention in 1894.
Thomas Tongue in Congress
In 1896, Thomas Tongue was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Oregon's 1st congressional district. He replaced Binger Hermann and won by a small number of votes. He was re-elected three more times. He served in the 55th, 56th, and 57th Congresses.
Tongue also won re-election in 1902 for the 58th Congress. However, he passed away before that session started. He began serving in the House of Representatives on March 4, 1897. He stayed there until his death in Washington, D.C., on January 11, 1903.
In Congress, Tongue was in charge of the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands. This committee worked on bringing water to dry areas. He served with other Oregon representatives, William R. Ellis and Malcolm Adelbert Moody.
Helping Create Crater Lake National Park
While in Congress, Tongue strongly supported creating a national park for Crater Lake in Southern Oregon. He introduced bills to make the park in 1898, 1899, and finally in 1901. The bill passed Congress in 1901. In May 1902, Crater Lake National Park became the fifth national park in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill into law.
Thomas Tongue's death in 1903 was sudden. It was reported as heart failure. After he passed away, Binger Hermann, who Tongue had replaced, was elected to finish Tongue's term. Thomas Brackett Reed, who was a Speaker of the House, said Tongue was "one of the seven ablest men in the House." This shows how respected he was.
His Family and Legacy
Thomas Tongue and his wife, Emily M. Eagleton, had eight children. Their names were Edmund Burke Tongue, Edwin Tongue, Mary G. Lombard, Thomas H. Tongue, Jr., Elizabeth Fey, Florence Munger, Bertha Rebecca Tongue, and Edith. Edith married Alfred E. Reames, who later became a U.S. Senator.
Thomas Tongue, Jr. and Edmund both became lawyers. Edmund even started a law business with his father in 1897. Congressman Tongue was buried in Hillsboro, Oregon. His family's burial plot is next to the Masonic Cemetery, which is now called Pioneer Cemetery. Thomas Tongue was the grandfather of Thomas H. Tongue III (1912 – 1994). Thomas H. Tongue III later became a judge on the Oregon Supreme Court.
